Portable traction splint

ABSTRACT

The splint comprises upper and lower sections joined together by hinge joints allowing folding over of the splint onto itself. A traction bar is provided slidably movable along substantially the full length of the lower section, ratchet means being included to lock the traction bar in place. A foot lashing of fixed length, but of variable diameter to accommodate feet of different size, is attached between the traction bar and the victim&#39;&#39;s foot.

United States Patent [191 Lumb, Jr. et a1.

[ Sept. 23, 1975 PORTABLE TRACTION SPLINT Inventors: Henry Oliver Lumb,Jr., 1050 Powell Dr., Riviera Beach, Fla. 33404; Robert RichardMorrissey, 845 Fosteria Dr., Apt. 14, Lake Park, Fla. 33403 Filed: Mar.27, 1974 Appl. No.: 455,265

U.S. Cl 128/84 C; 128/85 Int. Cl. A61F 5/04 Field of Search 128/84, 83,85, 75, 165, 128/88, 87, 80

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Barnes 128/85 Allen 128/85 Nourse128/85 1,238,224 8/1917 Vickers 1,442,711 H1923 Delorme 128/85 PrimaryExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-J. Yasko [5 7] ABSTRACT Thesplint comprises upper and lower sections joined together by hingejoints allowing folding over of the splint onto itself. A traction baris provided slidably movable along substantially the full length of thelower section, ratchet means being included to lock the traction bar inplace. A foot lashing of fixed length, but of variable diameter toaccommodate feet of different size, is attached between the traction barand the victims foot.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 of23,906,942

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of 3,906,942

PORTABLE TRACTION SPLINT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to portable tractionsplints for use at the scene of accidentsand thelike, and particularly to traction splints which are readilyadjustable ,in size to accommodate victims of various sizes. i

Traction splints of the type carried in emergency vehicles are wellknown. In general, such splints shouldbe simple to operate, compactableand of light weight for ease of transportation, and should be adjustablein size to provide proper traction substantially regardless of the sizeof the victim. I

While known commercially available splints more or less satisfy theserequirements, thereis room for improvement as exemplified by the splintof the instant invention.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view in perspective, and partlyexploded, of a splint in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective, on an enlarged scale, of a portion ofthe side supports of the splintshown in FIG. 1. i

FIG. 3 is a side view, partly broken-away, showing the securing of theleg of a victim to the splint shown in FIG. 1. v

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view, partly broken-away, of a lower portion ofthe splint shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view of a foot lashing used with the splint shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a lower portion of the splint shown in FIG. 1showing the lashing of.a foot to the splint.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Withreference of FIG. 1, the splint 10 comprises a generally rectangularframe including a lower section 12 and an upper section 14, each sectionbeing of generally U-shape, and the two sections being connectedtogether via a pair of double-hinged joints 16. The lower section 12includes two side bars 18 integrally joined by a connecting bar 20, andthe upper section 14 likewise includes two side bars 22 integrallyconnected by a bar 24. For greater rigidity, the upper sectionadditionally includes a transverse bar 25 secured, as by welding, to theside bars 22, the bar 25 curving downwardly out of the plane of the sidebars 22 to provide room for a limb secured between the side bars, asdescribed below. v

As shown in FIG. 2, the double-hinged joint 16 between each of the upperand lower sections 12 and 14 comprises a short bar or link 26 pivotally.attached to an end of'each side bar 18 and 22 by means ofa pin 28, avertical slot 30 being provided in the end of each bar 18 and 22 toreceive an end of the link 26. By virtue of the hinged-joint connectionbetween the two sections 12 and 14, the splint can be readily foldedonto itself, thus reducing the length of the splint and facilitatinghandling and storage thereof.

To lock the splint 10 in its unfolded, extended configuration, collarsor bushings 32 are provided frictionally slidable along the side bars 22andlinks 26. The bushings 32 are ofa length greater than that of links26, and when in place over the links 26 and pins 28, as shown about thehinge-joint is prevented.

Extending transversely between the side bars 18 an 22 of each framesection 12 and 14 are a number of limb supports 34 of known .type.Preferably, the supports 34 comprise a closed loop of an elasticmaterial,

e-.g., elasticized nylon, and each support includes a pair of extendingbands 36 which, as shown in FIG. 3, can

be disposed about the limb to. rigidly secure it to the splint. Forsimplicity and rapidity of joining the bands 36 around the limb, thebands 36 preferably include means such as known self-adheringfabricconnectors, one band containing a strip of fabric including plastichooks, the other band containing a strip of fabric including plasticloops. Alterna'tely, conventional buckle means can be.used.

Shown herein is a leg splint, and to this end, the side bars 22 of theupper section 14 curve downwardly out of the mainplane of the splintframe and towards one another to form a more narrow section fittingunder the upper thigh and buttock of the victim as shown in FIG. 3. Abuttock support pad 38 is provided covering the connecting bar 24, and apair of straps 40 including buckle and/or self-adhering fabric means atthe ends thereof are provided secured to the pad 38 for firmly securingthe upper thigh of the victim to the splint.

To provide traction to a limb'secured to the splint 10, a traction bar42 (FIG. 1.) is provided slidably movable along the side bars 18 of thelower section 12, a ratchet mechanism being provided for locking thetraction bar 42 against movement towards the splint upper section 14.Thus, as showninFIG. 4, each side bar 18 is provided on its innersurface with a series of notches 44 providing a ratchet track, and ablock46 is provided on each bar 18 for movement therealong. Each block46 has an opening 48 therethrough exposing the ratchet track, and eachend of the traction bar 42, which is hollow, is secured to the block 46within the block opening 48, as being press-fitted or pinned in placetherewithin. Slidably mounted within the traction bar 42 are a pair ofpins or ratchet catches 50 having angled outer ends, a compressionspring 52 being disposed between the two ratchet catches 50 for biasingthem in theoutwardly extended, ratchet-locking position. A pin 54 issecured to theinner end of each catch 50 and extends transverselyoutwardly from the traction bar 42 through slots 56 through the wallthereof. Tounlock or release the ratchet mechanism, the pins 54 aresqueezed towards one another to retract and disengage. the ratchetcatches 50 from the ratchet track.

Of particular importance herein, as more fully described hereinafter, isthat the ratchet track formed by the notches 44 extends substantiallythe entire length of the lower seciton 12 (see FIG. 1), whereby thetraction bar 42 can be locked substantially anywhere along the length ofthe lower section.

For securing the traction bar 42 to a limb secured to the splint 10, afoot lashing 58 as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6 is used. The foot lashing58 comprises a first strap 60 having free ends 62 and 64, the endsincluding means such as the aforementioned self-adhering fabric meansfor adhering the ends to one another, and a second strap 66 secured tothe first strap 60 intermediate its ends. The second strap 66 is securedto a hook 68 having two end loops 70 and 72, a further extension 73 ofthe second strap 66 terminating in a snap catch 74. Secured to the firststrap 60 between the free end 62 thereof and the point of attachment ofthe second strap 66 are a pair of short straps 76 and 78 eachterminating in a buckle 80. The various straps of the foot lashing 58can be made of fabric, e.g., canvas, and the straps sewn to one anotherby conventional stitching. Likewise, the second strap 66 can be securedto the hook 68 by means of a loop stitched around the hook loop 70.Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, but omitted from FIG. 5 forgreater clarity, a pad 59 is disposed between the lashing 58 and thevictims foot for greater comfort.

Completing the splint is a support 82 (FIGS. 1 and 3) by means of whichthe lower end of the splint can be raised off the ground. The support 82comprises a U-shaped bar, the ends of which are pivotally secured to themovable blocks 46 to which the traction bar 42 is secured, the pivotalsecuring means allowing folding over of the support 82 against the lowersection 12 during storage of the splint.

In use, the splint 10, in its locked, extended configuration, isdisposed beneath the leg and buttock of the victim, as shown in FIG. 3,and the leg securely bound to the splint by means of the support bands36 and the buttock pad straps 40. The foot lashing 58 is secured to thevictims foot (FIGS. 3 and 6) by positioning the point of attachment ofthe first 60 and second 66 straps of the lashing on one side of the leg,just above the ankle bone, and wrapping the first strap 60 about the'ankle, the free ends of the first strap overlapping and being securedto one-another. As shown, one or the other of the short straps 76 and 78secured to the first strap 60, depending upon the girth of the anklebeing secured, is disposed more or less diametrically opposite to thesecond strap 66, i.e., on the other side of the foot just above theankle bone, and the snap catch 74 extending from the hook 68 is securedto the strap buckle 80. The two straps 76 and 78 are of equal length,and the combined lengths of the strap extension 73, the snap hook 74 andthe strap 76 or 78 to which the hook 74 is connected are approximatelyequal to the length of the strap 66 between the hook 68 and the strap60. Thus, equal tension is applied by the foot lashing 58 to each sideof the foot.

The traction bar 42 is then moved towards the foot (the ratchet catchpins 54, FIG. 4, being squeezed together to disengage the ratchetmechanism), the hook 68 (FIG. 3) of the lashing is looped about the bar42, and the traction bar moved in the direction away from the foot toplace the limb in traction, the ratchet mechanism associated with thetraction bar 42 locking the traction bar in position.

Of particular importance is that the splint 10 can be used with victimsof greatly varying sizes. First, as previously noted, the traction bar42 can be locked substantially anywhere along the length of the lowersection 12 of the splint. Thus, for example, with a splint having anupper section 14 length of about 23 inches, a lower section 12 length ofabout 28 inches, and a foot lashing 58 having an extending length ofabout 1 1 inches, the splint is useful on legs varying in length between18 and 40 inches, i.e., on an adult of a height in the order of 6 feet10 inches down to children of a height in the order of 3 feet 7 inches.

Second, as noted above, the foot lashing 58 is provided with two (ormore, as desired) short straps 76 and 78 connected to the first, anklestrap 60, whereby, within a relatively wide range of ankle girths, oneof the two short straps 76 or 78 is disposed approximately diametricallyopposite the point of attachment of the second strap 66 with the anklestrap 60. By attaching the snap catch 74 end of the second strap 66 tothis short strap, tension is applied to the leg on opposite sidesthereof (FIG. 6), i.e., at opposite ends ofa line perpendicular to avertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the leg. Thisarrangement, applying equal traction to each vertical side of the ankle,is effective to maintain the foot perpendicular to the leg whiletraction is being applied. As known, this is generally desired forreasons of comfort and avoidance of further injury to the victim duringtransportation.

The foot lashing 58, as can be observed, provides a major portion of thevertical support'for the foot. A further advantage of the splint 10 isthat the foot lashing 58 is of a fixed, relatively short length betweenthe traction bar 42 and the victims ankle. Thus, the amount of verticalsupport provided by the foot lashing is the same regardless of thelength of the limb and regardless of the axial disposition of thetraction bar 42 along the splint frame. This feature is particularlydesirable in comparison with known splints where the traction applyingmeans is fixedly disposed at the lower end of the splint, and varioussize limbs are accomodated by varying the length of the foot lashingextending between the foot and the traction applying means. The longerthe foot lashing, the less is the vertical support provided the foot.

Various known ratchet means, other than the particular one shown forpositioning the traction bar 42 along the splint frame, can be used.Also, a ratchet mechanism can be dispensed with, and other traction barlocking means can be used. For example, the traction bar 42 can belocked in place by means of a strap extending between the traction bar42 and the connecting bar 20 of the lower frame section 12.

Also, other means for securing the traction bar 42 to a foot are withinthe scope of this invention. For example, in place of the first strap 60of the lashing 58 shown herein, a hollow inflatable tubing can be usedhaving free ends which can be secured to one another. In such case, onlya single short strap for attachment to the snap catch 74 need beprovided, variations in ankle size being accommodated by differentamounts of inflation of the ankle encircling tubing.

While described for use with a leg, splints in accordance with thisinvention can be used, suitably modified, on arms. Such modifications,clear to persons skilled in these arts, relate .to the dimensions of thesplint and lashings, and to the substitution of, e.g., a crescentshaped, crutch-type upper end, for the upper or buttock end of thesplint 10.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable traction splint comprising:

a pair of elongated side members and means for securing a limbtherebetween, at least one of said side members including a ratchettrack extending axially therealong,

traction means mounted on said side members, said traction meanscomprising a pair of blocks mounted one each on each of said sidemembers for movement therealong, and a hollow bar extending transverselybetween said side members and secured to said blocks, one of said blockshaving an opening therethrough in alignment with said bar and exposingsaid track,

a ratchet mechanism for locking said traction means against movementtowards one end of said side members, said mechanism comprising aratchet catch disposed within said hollow bar and biased to extendoutwardly from one end thereof through said block opening and intoengagement with said track, and means for retracting said catch inwardlyof said bar for disengaging it from said track, and

limb lashing means for securing said traction means to a limb secured tosaid splint, limb length variations being accommodated by varying theposition of said traction means along said side members.

2. A splint as in claim 1 including a compression spring disposed withinsaid bar for biasing said catch, and wherein said retracting meanscomprises a pin secured to said catch and extending transversely awayfrom said bar through a slot in the wall thereof.

3. A limb lashing for securing a limb to a splint comprising:

an elongated first member including securing means whereby said membercan be disposed around and secured to a limb,

a second elongated member extending transversely from said first memberand secured thereto at a first point, said second member having a firstconnecting means at its free end and a second connecting meansintermediate said first point and said free end,

a third elongated member extending transversely from said first memberand secured thereto at a second point spaced from said first point, saidthird member having a third connecting means at the free end thereof,said first and third connecting means being connectable to one another,

the dimensions of said lashing being such that, when in its operativedisposition for securing a limb to a splint, the distance between saidfirst connecting means and said first point when measured along saidsecond member is substantially equal to the distance between said firstconnecting means and said second point when measured along said thirdmember.

4. The lashing of claim 3 wherein said first elongated member comprisesa hollow inflatable tubing.

5. The lashing of claim 3 including a fourth elongated member extendingfrom said first member transversely thereto and secured to said firstmember at a third point spaced from said second point and having afourth connecting means at the free end thereof connectable to saidfirst connecting means, said third and fourth members, including theconnecting means attached thereto, being of substantially the samelength, whereby, depending upon the girth ofa limb secured by saidlashing, said first connecting means can be connected to either of saidthird or fourth connecting means to provide two connections between saidfirst connecting means and said first elongated member of substantiallyequal length.

1. A portable traction splint comprising: a pair of elongated sidemembers and means for securing a limb therebetween, at least one of saidside members including a ratchet track extending axially therealong,traction means mounted on said side members, said traction meanscomprising a pair of blocks mounted one each on each of said sidemembers for movement therealong, and a hollow bar extending transverselybetween said side members and secured to said blocks, one of said blockshaving an opening therethrough in alignment with said bar and exposingsaid track, a ratchet mechanism for locking said traction means againstmovement towards one end of said side members, said mechanism comprisinga ratchet catch disposed within said hollow bar and biased to extendoutwardly from one end thereof through said block opening and intoengagement with said track, and means for retracting said catch inwardlyof said bar for disengaging it from said track, and limb lashing meansfor securing said traction means to a limb secured to said splint, limblength variations being accommodated by varying the position of saidtraction means along said side members.
 2. A splint as in claim 1including a compression spring disposed within said bar for biasing saidcatch, and wherein said retracting means comprises a pin secured to saidcatch and extending transversely away from said bar through a slot inthe wall thereof.
 3. A limb lashing for securing a limb to a splintcomprising: an elongated first member including securing means wherebysaid member can be disposed around and secured to a limb, a secondelongated member extending transversely from said first member andsecured thereto at a first point, said second member having a firstconnecting means at its free end and a second connecting meansintermediate said first point and said free end, a third elongatedmember extending transversely from saiD first member and secured theretoat a second point spaced from said first point, said third member havinga third connecting means at the free end thereof, said first and thirdconnecting means being connectable to one another, the dimensions ofsaid lashing being such that, when in its operative disposition forsecuring a limb to a splint, the distance between said first connectingmeans and said first point when measured along said second member issubstantially equal to the distance between said first connecting meansand said second point when measured along said third member.
 4. Thelashing of claim 3 wherein said first elongated member comprises ahollow inflatable tubing.
 5. The lashing of claim 3 including a fourthelongated member extending from said first member transversely theretoand secured to said first member at a third point spaced from saidsecond point and having a fourth connecting means at the free endthereof connectable to said first connecting means, said third andfourth members, including the connecting means attached thereto, beingof substantially the same length, whereby, depending upon the girth of alimb secured by said lashing, said first connecting means can beconnected to either of said third or fourth connecting means to providetwo connections between said first connecting means and said firstelongated member of substantially equal length.